Business Desk 
Jan 24, 2025
Federal Minister for Power Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari has invited the Sweden Green Fund to assist Pakistan in converting small vehicles, especially motorcycles, to electric technology.
The request for technical and financial assistance comes as Pakistan recently implemented a significant tariff reduction for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
Technical and financial assistance for electric conversion
The Minister highlighted that there are over 30 million motorcycles in Pakistan, and people in that income group have a good track record of repaying loans, making them a viable demographic for the proposed interest-free loan scheme.
He suggested that the Swedish and EU Green Fund could provide interest-free loans through Pakistani banks with robust financial systems.
Minister Leghari highlighted the importance of renewable energy, noting that last year, renewable sources accounted for 55% of Pakistan's overall power generation.
Moreover, he reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to promoting renewable energy and mentioned that the Power Division is developing policies to ensure affordable and sustainable electricity for consumers.
The minister also discussed the ongoing review of Pakistan's Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan (IGCEP) to optimise energy resources for maximum economic impact.
The Swedish Ambassador Alexandra Berg Von Linde highlighted the strong diplomatic ties between Pakistan and Sweden, noting that last year marked 75 years of their relationship. She mentioned that Swedish companies operating in Pakistan are keen on securing reliable green energy supplies.
Ambassador Von Linde noted Sweden's readiness to share expertise and technological support with Pakistan, particularly in the textile sector, which is a primary exporter to the EU.
She further explained that 70% of Sweden's energy is produced from renewable resources, illustrating how economic development and green energy can coexist seamlessly.
